Magic Lantern Slides of Hogarth's Drawings

Mahogany frames impressed 'NEWTON 3 FLEET ST LONDON', each with hand painted scenes of Industry & Idleness, by Hogarth, 5 from a set of 12 (Slides 3, 4, 6, 9, 12), 16.2cm x 10cm

William Hogarth FRSA (1697–1764) was an English artist renowned for his prowess as a painter, engraver, and social commentator. His work spans from lifelike portraiture to serialized narratives known as "modern moral subjects." Among his most celebrated works are the iconic series "A Harlot's Progress," "A Rake's Progress," and "Marriage A-la-Mode." Hogarth's influence is so profound that satirical political illustrations in a similar vein are often described as "Hogarthian."

Born into a lower-middle-class family in London, Hogarth's early life was marked by financial instability, with his father experiencing periods of prosperity and adversity, including imprisonment due to unpaid debts. These experiences lent a poignant depth to Hogarth's later artistic endeavors.

Influenced by French and Italian art, Hogarth's creations primarily revolve around satirical caricatures, occasionally tinged with bawdy humor, yet consistently displaying a mastery of realistic portraiture. His works enjoyed immense popularity during his lifetime, widely disseminated through prints, making him the preeminent English artist of his era. Charles Lamb aptly characterized Hogarth's images as "books," rich with layers of meaning akin to words, setting his art apart as not merely something to be viewed but also to be deciphered and understood.